Distributed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system with concurrent network connections and multi-zone control

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for managing control units in HVAC network includes a first control unit communicatively coupled to a first plurality of HVAC units and a first interactive display, and the first control unit controls HVAC services for a first zone. A second control unit communicatively coupled to a second plurality of HVAC units and a second interactive display, and the second control unit controls HVAC services for a second zone. The first control unit may detect and connect to the second control unit using a Wi-Fi direct protocol to create an HVAC control network. The first control unit may also determine that the second control unit controls HVAC services for the second zone in response to connecting to the second control unit. The first control unit may also update the first interactive display to show the first and second zones and receive a command from the first interactive display over the HVAC control network to adjust a temperature of the second zone.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for managing control units in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network, comprising:
 a first control unit communicatively coupled to a first plurality of HVAC units and a first interactive display, wherein the first control unit controls HVAC services for a first zone; 
 a second control unit communicatively coupled to a second plurality of HVAC units and a second interactive display, wherein the second control unit controls HVAC services for a second zone; 
 wherein, the first control unit is configured to:
 connect to the second control unit using a Wi-Fi direct protocol to create an HVAC control network; 
 connect to the second control unit using a Wi-Fi network generated by a wireless access point; 
 receive an installation report that indicates the second control unit controls HVAC services for the second zone in response to connecting to the second control unit; 
 update the first interactive display to show the first and second zones in response to receiving the installation report; 
 receive a command from the first interactive display over the HVAC control network to adjust a temperature of an identified zone; 
 determine the identified zone is the second zone in response to receiving the command; 
 receive an alert indicating the second control unit is disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network; and 
 communicate the command to the second control unit using the HVAC control network in response to receiving the alert indicating the second control unit is disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second control unit is configured to:
 receive the command from the first control units; and 
 transmit the command to the second plurality of HVAC units to adjust the temperature of the second zone. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first control unit is further configured to:
 detect a user device connected to the Wi-Fi network; 
 connect to the user device over the Wi-Fi network; 
 receive a command from the user device to adjust a temperature of the second zone; and 
 transmit the command to the second control unit and 
 
 the second control unit is further configured to:
 receive the command from the first control unit; and 
 transmit the command to the second plurality HVAC units to adjust the temperature of the second zone. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second control unit disconnects from the Wi-Fi network and the HVAC control network; and
 the first device is configured to:
 detect that the second control unit has disconnected from the Wi-Fi network and the HVAC control network; and 
 update the first interactive display to show that the second control unit is disconnected from the Wi-Fi network. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second control unit alerts the first control unit before disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network and the HVAC control network. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first control unit is configured to alert the user device that the second control unit is disconnected from the Wi-Fi network and the HVAC control network. 
     
     
       7. A system for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network, comprising:
 a first control unit communicatively coupled to a first plurality of HVAC units and a first interactive display, wherein the first control unit controls HVAC services for a first zone; and 
 a second control unit communicatively coupled to a second plurality of HVAC units and a second interactive display, wherein the second control unit controls HVAC services for a second zone; 
 wherein, the first control unit is configured to:
 connect to the second control unit over a Wi-Fi network; 
 connect to the second control unit using a Wi-Fi direct protocol to create an HVAC control network; 
 receive an installation report that indicates the second control unit controls HVAC services for the second zone in response to connecting to the second control unit; 
 update the first interactive display to show the first and second zones in response to receiving the installation report; 
 receive a command to adjust a temperature of an identified zone from the first interactive display; 
 determine the identified zone is the second zone in response to receiving the command; 
 receive an alert indicating the second control unit is disconnecting from the HVAC control network; and 
 communicate the command to the second control unit using the Wi-Fi network in response to receiving the alert indicating the second control unit is disconnecting from the HVAC control network. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein
 the second control unit is configured to:
 receive the command from the first control unit over the Wi-Fi network; and 
 transmit the command to the second plurality of HVAC units to adjust the temperature of the second zone. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first control unit is further configured to:
 connect to a user device over the Wi-Fi network, 
 receive a command from the user device to adjust a temperature of the second zone, and 
 transmit the command to the second control unit over the Wi-Fi network; and 
 the second control unit configured to:
 receive the command from the first control unit using the Wi-Fi network, and 
 
 transmit the command to the second plurality of HVAC units to adjust the temperature of the second zone. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first control unit is further configured to:
 connect to a user device using the Wi-Fi direct protocol, 
 receive a command from the user device to adjust a temperature of the second zone using the Wi-Fi direct protocol, and 
 transmit the command to the second control unit over the Wi-Fi network; and 
 the second control unit configured to:
 receive the command from the first control unit using the Wi-Fi network, and 
 transmit the command to the second plurality of HVAC units to adjust the temperature of the second zone. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second control unit disconnects from the Wi-Fi network; and
 the first control unit is configured to:
 detect that the second control unit has disconnected from the Wi-Fi networks; and 
 update the first interactive display to show that the second control unit is disconnected. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second control unit alerts the first control unit that the second control unit is about to disconnect from the Wi-Fi network.